Over the past three years, we’ve tossed around a lot of theories, acronyms and inside jokes. Sometimes, it gets old having to reexplain the same concepts over and over. For new readers (especially drop in Pats fans) here’s everything you need to understand the world of 18to88.

Causation/Correlation: There may be a relationship between two events, but one doesn’t necessarily cause the other. For instance, 100% of teams that kneel in the fourth quarter win games. Kneeling on the football is NOT a strategy to win games.

The Curse of Cory Simon: Simon was the Colts free agent pick up before the 2005 season. He played one year before his career was ended by chronic fatness. He then affected the destiny of the next three DTs the Colts tried to bring in, including Booger McFarland (knee), Quinn Pitcock (retired after one year), and Ed Johnson (a case of the munchies). The Colts also traded for a DT with the Bills, but the deal was rescinded after he failed a physical.

Demond Sanders (aka DS): The founder of 18to88.com, Luke Dunlevy. The name honors Bob Sanders. Demond is his real first name.

Deshawn Zombie (aka DZ): Nate Dunlevy, co-author of 18to88.com. The name was originally a joke. Deshawn sounded like an appropriate name for Demond’s brother. The Zombie part refers to Bob Sanders (see The Zombie below).

Dwight Freeney: The second most important and third greatest Colt…by far.

JC: Our resident Patriots fan. JC is foul mouthed, crazy offensive, and sort of retarded. He also has been a regular for more than two years now, so has full immunity to show up and say whatever he wants. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a troll. He’s contributed a lot to the 18to88 community, so don’t whine when he says something to piss you off.

“Luck”: 18to88 recognizes that there is a lot of randomness in football. Not every game is won or loss on effort, cunning or skill. “Fumble luck” is the idea that the recovery of a fumble is a random event. “Return luck” speaks to the fact that TD returns off of turnovers are random events.

Mad Jack: Jack Del Rio, coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who once chopped his kicker’s leg off. More or less.

Marvin Harrison is retired: Is he? Do you think we should change the name of our blog to 18to87? No one has ever suggested that before! Shut your hole. Marvin Harrison is the second greatest Colt ever. We are NEVER CHANGING THE NAME!

Mike Tanier: Football Outsider, writer of the excellent Walkthrough column and friend of 18to88.

Our First Post:Both hilarious and informative, it explains why we talk about sports other than football from time to time. In the offseason, we refuse to be limited to just the Colts. Deal with it.

“People are stupid”: Don’t tell us what most people think about a subject. Most people are usually wrong. Opinions are valid if they are well reasoned or well supported. We want stats or sound logic. We care very little about “popular opinion”. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but everyone is also entitled to be wrong.

Pythagorean Wins: A mathematical formula shown to be more reliable for predicting future results than actual wins and losses. It is based on points for and and points allowed.

Quarterbacks don’t win games: Teams win games, not quarterbacks. No individual player can be judged by wins and losses. Teams can. Coaches can. GM’s can. Players can’t. QBs get too much credit and too much blame for the outcome of games.

Rolly Polly Bat Out of Hell: Gary Brackett.

Shake: Long time reader and writer for Stampede Blue, Shakenbake. His real name is Joe Baker, and he does great work.

Small Sample Size: The fewer data points, the less reliable the conclusion. This is the problem with judging players based solely on postseason performance. There are too few games to reach a credible conclusion.

Sorgi Time: The fourth preseason game/the final three quarters of the last regular season game.

Sparkle Kitties: The Jaguars. They have sparkly helmets for no apparent reason. Then again, they have a team for no apparent reason too!

Spelling: DZ sucks at it. He’s basically illerterate.

Star Wars: It rules, and if you disagree I hate you. The Empire Strikes Back is the greatest movie ever made, and I won’t argue about this with you.

Two for None: The reason I love it when the Colts lose the toss. It occurs when one team gets the final possession to end the first half AND the first possession of the second half. It is is an incredibly dangerous scenario for a defense.

Vandershank: Mike Vanderjagt the most hated Colt of all time. Missed two critical kicks in the final moments of playoff games. Had the temerity to question Manning and Dungy, when he was the one who sucked.

Vic: Vic Ketchman, writer of “Ask Vic” on Jaguars.com. Famously declared the Colts to be fools for wasting Peyton Manning’s career just a month before they won the Super Bowl.